Nineteen people have died, including 18 attackers, in a shootout between security forces and gunmen who attacked the presidential palace in the Chadian capital of N'Djamena, the government said, quoted by Agence France-Presse and BTA.
"There are 18 dead and six wounded" from a squad of 24 who carried out the attack, and "we have suffered one victim and three wounded, one of them seriously", government spokesman and Foreign Minister Abderamane Koulamala told AFP.
Earlier, shooting was reported near the presidential palace in the center of the capital, N'Djamena. Authorities said unknown individuals attacked the palace, but added that the attack was quickly repelled.
The area around the presidency has been cordoned off, with tanks and police deployed in the streets. Residents of the capital also headed there to join a rally in support of Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno.